Dog Life

I'M NOT FEELING WELL WHEN I ANSWER THE PHONE. It's that season, I suppose. The one that can leave you talking through your nose-freezing with unexplained shivers in one stuffed breath, and sweating like a UFC fighter in the next. Basically, it's a day that reminds me how grateful I am to have a work-fromhome gig that sees mismatched Old Navy pajamas and a Lululemon headband as formalwear.

Looking for an excuse to visit the Big Apple this August? Look no further. Fashion goes to the dogs with New York Pet Fashion Week.

San Francisco-based artist Mark Ulriksen is well known for his bold, vibrantly expressionist paintings and illustrations. His use of simple, well articulated lines and strong colours results in highly graphic works that are full of character and immediately command attention.

If you saw a biker dude walking a Rottweiler with a spiked leather collar, or a Coco Chanel clone with a perfectly clipped Poodle on a Shantung silk leash, you would have little difficulty seeing how those dogs were a good reflection of their owners. But what about your own dog? What kind of portrait of you does your canine companion paint? You may not have thought about it, but the fact is that everything about your dog-its breed, size, personality, training, diet, grooming, and so on-reveals a great deal about you, for better or for worse.

The term "puppy love" conjures images of teen couples passing notes in the school hallway. All is warm and fuzzy. The term "puppy dog eyes" brings to mind big, droopy, please-love- me peepers reflecting innocence and loyalty. Both of these colloquialisms are made all the more appealing by virtue of one simple word: "puppy." Not only have we come to love the sweet little creatures themselves, but - let's face it - we love the word. Puppy.

Imagine landing your dream job right after graduating from university; then imagine being launched into Broadway stardom just two years after that. Sound surreal, amazing…maybe supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Not if you’re Ashley Brown, who stepped off the campus of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music straight into a touring production of On the Record and from there into the starring role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Currently, she is headlining Disney’s hit revival of Mary Poppins.

Explore Old Town, the Pearl District and Downtown for a full day of doggie eats, sleeps, shops and spots in this laid-back west coast mecca.

When life gives you dog poo, make organic fertilizer. At least that’s what NatureMill would have us do. And why not? Unlike traditional backyard composting, NatureMill’s pet-friendly composter (made from recycled and recyclable materials) requires next to no effort. Essentially, all you have to do is drop in the poo, along with any other organic materials, such as kitchen scraps like coffee grounds, dairy, veggie peelings, fish or meat.

We know all about the tempestuous romances and ill-fated marriages, her violet eyes, larger-than-life beauty and enormous diamonds-but who'd ‘a thunk that doggies were this girl's best friend?

Actress Virginia Madsen has spent most of her career playing girlfriends, femmes fatales and sexy blondes, but her recent role as a wine-savvy waitress in the low-budget film Sideways has boosted her career into high gear. With the role earning her a Best Supporting Actress award from the National Society of Film Critics, a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild award, and plenty of Oscar buzz, Sideways has turned Virginia’s world upside-down.